The morning of Dec. 20 is beginning to look a lot like Christmas as I write this news update. We are getting some much-needed moisture in the form of snow.

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I think of warmth, comfort and loved ones. I think of caring and sharing. Christmas is a time to reach out to others to let them know we are there for them.

Some of my best Christmas memories were when I attended the one-room schools at Shiloh and Freedom. The community reached out to all of us children and made sure that we had a merry time. Each year we had a Christmas program of plays and monologues. A decorated tree with a gift exchange and Santa Claus would appear and pass out sacks of hard candy, peanuts, with an orange and apple.

Although we hear the refrain, “Tis the season to be merry” that is not always the case for everyone. We should take this time to reach out to those who are homeless, who have lost loved ones, and to those in need. We can reach out and lift them up with a kind word, a gentle caring hand, and perhaps a gift, a token of our care and friendship. There are so many ways to give, to share. And the intangible gifts…the ones that are of kindness and deeds of caring…are the most important. When we reach out to those in need, we receive so much more in return.

May you and your families enjoy a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a blessed holiday season all around and a prosperous and wondrous New Year.

With the 2013 legislative session just weeks away, members of the Missouri House and Senate have turned their attention to filing bills. Our speaker Tim Jones has recently made a four day tour of the state where he outlined his Triple E Agenda: Economic Development for Job Creation, A Strong Energy Policy for a More Energy Independent Missouri and Education Funding and Reform for our most precious resource and treasure, our children.

The House Majority will focus on legislation designed to retain major employers and professionals, improve our business climate and comprehensively revise our complicated criminal code. Missouri must reform its confusing regulatory environment for businesses and energy production and eliminate disadvantages that Missouri has in competing with neighboring states for businesses, jobs and medical professionals.

Finally, we must continue to focus on our education system and make it the best it can be. Our children and grandchildren of today are the “us” of tomorrow: The business leaders, the job creators, the public servants, the entrepreneurs, the innovators, the workers and the future leaders of our state and nation. Lawmakers from both parties will work together to accomplish our goals in the next session.

The past two weeks I have attended the Missouri Cattlemen’s convention and participated on the Legislative Panel. I have been busy getting my office at the Capitol furnished. My “Hat’s Off” to Debbie Poire my Legislative Assistant and others at the Capitol who have been so helpful. I have drafted three bills to be researched and written. They involve Prevailing Wage, Workman’s Compensation, and Collecting Sales Tax on out-of-state Internet sales.

My official duties will begin on Jan. 9, when we are sworn in. At that time I will have my official phone number and email address. Until then you can contact me thru my website which is www.warrenlove.org, email address: warrenlove@centurytel.net, or phone 417-646-2320.